Councillor Philip Whitehead presented the report which recommend the adoption of the Wiltshire Council Digital Strategy
2017–2021.

Issues highlighted in the course of the presentation
and discussion included: the steps taken to ensure that consultants
are treated differently to employees to avoid negative tax
implications; that the impact of the contact on smaller and local
contractors had been considered and would be monitored; and the
opportunities for transferring skills as part of consultancy
work.

Resolved

To implement the neutral vendor solution
via Bloom with a goal of implementation commencing Autumn 2017.
This project should be viewed as a Strategic Procurement initiative
designed to aid the implementation of categorymanagement and support the council’s
strategy around securing best
value Consultancy and Specialist Professional
Services.

To approve the award the provision of consultancy
services to Bloom under the call-off agreement to the NEPO
compliant framework agreement and to delegate to the Associate
Director for Corporate Services the entering into and the
finalising of the call-off contract.

Reason for Decision:

To establish improved governance and better control
expenditure on the procurement of specialist professional services
and consultancy.